How to ... set up a course in objective methods of clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Practice Methods

Background:

• Medical training requires effective methods for objective clinical practice.
• University College, Galway, identified a need for a structured course in this area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the structure and requirements for a new course in objective methods of clinical practice.
• To emphasize the importance of practical application and assessment in medical education.

Main Methods:

• Designing an intensive, practical-based curriculum.
• Integrating clinical examples and demonstrations.
• Recommending placement within the third year of a 5-year medical program.

Main Results:

• The proposed course emphasizes hands-on learning over theoretical instruction.
• Adequate resource allocation is crucial for successful implementation.
• The course necessitates formal auditing and student evaluation.

Conclusions:

• A well-resourced, practical, and assessed course is essential for teaching objective clinical methods.
• The third year of a medical program is identified as an optimal time for this intensive training.